1.)Where was the first place that you traveled that made you think WOW—travel is amazing (think history book come to life or …..)

I think the first trip that really opened my eyes to travel was a month-long trip to Morocco when I was 17 years old. Although I’d travelled around Europe quite a lot before that, it was the first trip that really opened my eyse to different cultures.

2.)If you had unlimited resources, where would you go and what would you do?

I might re-create our honeymoon, but this time with our children so we could share the experience with them. We went to Tanzania, spending time on a luxury safari (Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Lake Manyara) before heading for a private island just off Zanzibar for a little rest and relaxation.

3.)What were you afraid to do and how did you find the courage to overcome it?

I’m not wildly comfortable with climbing and abseiling but was last year asked to do a piece for a car manufacturer for A Luxury Travel Blog which involved stopping someone en route, and doing just that. I guess I overcame it by simply having faith in the instructors and the equipment we were using. It really wasn’t so bad in the end.

4.)What apps do you use regularly that make your life easier?

TripIt for creating itineraries, Google Maps for finding my way around places, Strava for exercise as I travel (running), and BBC iPlayer and Podcasts for passing the time on long journeys.

5.)What place do you wish more people have seen?

Africa. I wish more people went on safari, even if only once, to increase public awareness of the plight of animals such as the rhino.

6.)Best advice you have been given and by whom?

“You never regret life’s extravagances” – said to us by a good friend prior to buying my wife’s engagement ring! But we have lived by it ever since!!

7.)When were you surprised by the kindness of strangers on a trip?

When visiting an island in the Maldives last Summer, we were invited into a local home and given fresh coconut to drink. Residents showed us around the island with a lot of pride about where they lived.

8.)What inspired you to travel for extended periods of time or live in a new country?

My travels are never usually that extended. Two months is the longest I’ve ever been on a trip and almost all trips I make are less than a couple of weeks.

9.)I travel because….

…I love it! I never tired of visiting different parts of the world and I enjoy sharing amazing experiences with my family.

Paul has worked in the travel industry for more than 25 years and has traveled extensively, from his home in Kendal, Cumbria (UK) to places all over the world. He is also a Director of The Dedicated Partnership Ltd., an online tourism marketing company with a client base that includes some of the finest hotels in the world.

Caitlyn O'Brien

Caitlyn is a 26-year-old Canadian with a passion for travel, futbol, and more recently kayaking in her new Patagonian home: Futaleufú. She teaches English at a local school and loves turning her daily experiences into stories.